Q. 2

2. One student asked, “Why do we have to discuss teaching minority children the language of power? Why not just teach everyone acceptance?” Respond.

The most important thing to understand about acceptance is that it won’t necessarily produce equality. By just teaching those in power, a.k.a. the white upper middle class, to accept the academic shortcomings of minority groups as standard is to expect less of them. By believing minority groups can acquire the language of what is unequivocally the symbol of power (a well-spoken person) and holding them to those expectations, is to produce equality.

On a side note, the student who likely asked this question was one of the people in power. Isn’t the question in itself a testament of their denial to admit that they their language is evidence of a difference in social capital and communication power?